Safeway EVP Everette to Retire

PLEASANTON, Calif. —Safeway[2] here said Friday that Bruce Everette is retiring as the chain’s executive vice president of retail operations after a 44-year career with the company.

Kelly Griffith, currently Safeway’s president of merchandising, has been named to succeed Everette.

Everette’s career began in 1968 as a clerk in Virginia. He then worked his way up the retail management ranks, holding positions in several geographies, including Oklahoma, Arizona, Illinois and Northern California. Everette, 61, was named president of the company's Phoenix Division in 1995 and, three years later, he became president of the Northern California Division. He was named executive vice president of retail operations in 2001.

Throughout his career, Everette has been involved with numerous philanthropic organizations. Easter Seals honored him with the State Board of Virginia Pasture Award for Outstanding Leadership. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Boy Scouts of America. In 1997 Everette was honored as Arizona's Retailer of the Year. The University of Southern California named him Food Industry Executive of the Year in 2006. Last year he was inducted into the California Grocer's Association's Educational Foundation Hall of Achievement.

"We are deeply grateful to Bruce for his significant and lasting contribution to our company's success," Steve Burd, Safeway chairman and chief executive officer — who is set to retire himself in May — said in a statement. "He is the consummate operating executive whose results and people-oriented approach to the business leave an unmistakable imprint on who we are as a company.”

Griffith, 49, brings 33 years of experience to his new role. After working his way through a range of retail store management assignments, he was assigned to corporate retail operations at Safeway in 1999 and named vice president the following year. Griffith was promoted to vice president, retail operations in the Seattle division in 2001, then returned to the corporate office as senior vice president, produce and floral, in 2004. He was promoted to Portland Division president in 2005 and returned to corporate in 2008 as president, perishables. In 2010 he was named president of merchandising.